Egg container



July 17, 1934.

J. H. PICKETT EGG CONTAINER Filed- Jan. 12 1929 fnuerztar Jczhn FARE/ ELL Patented July 17, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE assignor to Holed-Tite Packing Corporation,

New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application January 12,

14 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in egg containers, and the object of my invention is to form strengthening ribs extending across a molded container whereby it is held against through bending, and a further object of my invention is to form such strengthening ribs of U shaped cross section so they do not interfere when the containers are nested for storage or shipment to the egg packers. I

A still further object of my invention is to provide longitudinal and transverse ribs whereby the containers are held against longitudinal and transverse bending, and another object of my invention is to form such ribs with flat outer surfaces whereby such flat surfaces may be utilized for imprinting the name of the egg packer.

My invention consists of an egg .container formed and arranged all as hereinafter more particularly described andillustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view my container in which longitudinal provided.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of the lower portion of my container taken through the line 2-2 Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view of the lower portion of my container taken through the line 33 Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a plan view of a fragmentary part of the lower portion of my container as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3.

Figure 5 is a similar view to Figure 4, showing my form of container wherein longitudinal and transverse ribs are provided, and

Figure 6 is of one form of ribs are only an inverted plan view of the portion of the container illustrated in Figure 5.

Like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different views.

My container in common with the other moldedegg containers of this type consists of upper and lower portions 1 and 2 which are of substantially the same form; and it will therefore only be necessary to describe the bottom portion as illustrated in Figures 2 to 6 Such portions of my containers consist each of a dozen egg cells 3 formed in two parallel rows of six cells each. These cells are of semicircular cross section and are depressed from a flat sheet 4 following standard construction in molded egg containers of this type. The faces of the sheets 4 of the upper and lower portions are adapted to abut each other whereby the aligned cells of such upper and lower portions 5 form individual egg receptacles. It has been 1929, Serial No. 332,189

found in usage. however that this type of container whilst affording excellent protection for the eggs against direct impact is apt to bend when filled with eggs thus causing a distortion between the two portions of the container which very frequently results in egg breakage. In order to eliminate this fault I form longitudinal ribs 5 for retaining the container against longitudinal bending and in certain cases transverse ribs 6 for retaining the container against transverse bending.

The longitudinal ribs 5 extend at right angles from the outer face '7 of the portion 4 and intersect the two rows of cells intermediately' of their width, such ribs can be of the same height as the cells so that their tops or bases are flush therewith or a little higher than the cells to form an extra protection such as illustrated in Figure 1.

'Upon reference to the drawing it will be seen 15 that the ribs 5 only actually extend from the sheets 4 between the egg cells so that the sides of the ribs comprise a plurality of substantially aligned V shaped members 8 which extend between adjacent cells and are integral therewith, so the ribs between the cells therefore being of substantially U shaped cross section as illustrated in dotted lines in Figure 3. The ends 9 of the ribs 5 curve downwardly following the curvature of the outer cells and merge intothe ends of 35 the sheets 4.

The transverse ribs 10 as provided in the form of container illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 are formed in the same manner as the longitudinal ribs 5 and extend between adjacent pairs of cells 0 3 intermediately of their width. The sides of these ribs are also of substantially U shape between the cells and merge thereinto in the'same manner as the portions 8. Where both longitudinal and transverse ribs are provided such at the points 11 substantially centrally of the egg cells, the ends of all the ribs following the cell curvature from such intersecting points and merging into the sheet 4.

If it is desired to utilize the top faces 12 of the ribs as surfaces for receiving the name of the egg packer or any other identification, such top faces are molded flat as illustrated in the drawing whereby the imprint can be readily received, but if such a requirement is not needed the faces 12 of the ribs can be of curved cross section and if desired follow the curvature of the egg cells.

It will be readily seen that in providing these ribs that I have provided a simple and lnexpensive means for retaining the container against distortion and that the provision of such ribs will in no way interfere with the nesting of the containers for shipping or storage purposes. It has been found in practice that my improved type of container can be made for practically the same cost as the standard type of molded container, whilst adding in a marked degree to the security of the eggs against breakage. Although I have shown and described a particular embodiment of my invention it is to be understood that I can make such changes and alterations as I may deem necessary without departing from the spirit of my invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. An egg container of the character described, comprising sheets of molded material provided with egg holding cups, the sheets forming by means of said cups a row of egg receiving cells, each cell adapted to receive and engage an egg, there also being in said sheets a continuous straight relatively narrow recess arched'in cross section running through each row of cups in each sheet, extending beyond the cups on the outside of the sheet, and forming webs between the cups.

2. An egg container of the character described, comprising sheets of fibrous material provided with egg holding cups, the sheets forming by means of said cups a row of egg receiving cells, each cell adapted .to receive and engage an egg, there also being in said sheets a continuous straight relatively narrow recess arched in cross section running through each row of cups ineach sheet, extending beyond the cups on the outside of the sheet, and forming webs between the cups, said recesses forming continuous ventilating channels between the cups at sides and tops thereof.

3. An egg container of the character described, comprising sheets of molded material provided with egg holding cups, the sheets forming by means of said cups a row of egg receiving cells, each cell adapted to receive and hold an egg, there also being in said sheets a continuous sheet, extending beyond the cups on the outside in cross section, and forming webs between the cups, said recesses forming continuous ventilating channels between the cups at sides and tops thereof, said recesses having substantially flat bottoms and the surfaces of the sheet opposite thereto being substantially fiat, to form a flat base for the entire sheet and a printing surface.

4. A fragile article container of the character described, comprising sheets of molded material provided with article holding cups or pockets, the sheets forming by means of said cups arow of article receiving cells, each cell adapted to receive and hold an article, there also being in said sheets a continuous straight relatively narrow recess arched in cross section running through each row of pockets in each sheet, extending beyond the pockets on the outside of the sheet, and forming webs between the pockets.

5. In a container of the type described, a member formed with arow of cavities for alinement with the cavities of a complemental member to provide a row of article receiving compartments, and areini'orcing rib of substantially U-shaped cross section inclusive of said portions and an intermediate relatively wide and fiat connecting portion extending across a portion at least oisaid member in a plane parallel to the plane of the" member and not nearer to the plane of the member than the outer ends of said cavities.

6. A fragile article container of the character described, comprising a sheet of molded material provided with article holding pockets, the sheet forming bymeans of said pockets a row of article receiving cells, each cell adapted to receive and hold an article, there also being in said sheet a continuous straight relatively narrow rib running along a row of pockets in the sheet, said rib having a base substantially flat in cross section extending beyondthe pockets on the outside of the sheet and forming webs between the pockets.

7. In a container of the type described a member formed with a row of cavities adapted for alinement with the cavities of a complemental member to provide a row of article receiving compartments, and a reinforcing rib of substantially U-shaped cross section inclusive of side portions and an intermediate relatively wide and flat connecting portion, extending across the space between adjacent cavities, the flat connecting portion being in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the member.

8. An article carrier comprising a carrier member having a plurality of spaced cavities therein adapted to receive articles therein, and a longitudinallyrigid but laterally expansible reenforcement disposed across the spaces between said cavities and extending as a channel member presenting converging flexible side portions permissive of the lateral expansion of said cavities to accommodate articles of varying sizes and an intermediate relatively wide and flat connecting portion disposed beyond the plane of the ends 7 of the cavities and constituting a bearing surface for spacing and cushioning the ends of the cavi ties from the support upon which the carrier member may rest.

9. A container comprising a sheet provided with article receiving recesses, said sheet forming by means of'said recesses a row of article receiving cells, there also being in said sheet a reinforcing rib extending through said row of cells,-at least the edges of the base of said rib lying in the same plane, said rib forming webs between the cells on the outside of the sheet.

10. A container comprising a sheet provided with article receiving recesses, said sheet forming by means of said recesses rows of article receiving cells, there also being in said sheet a reinforcing rib extending through each row of cells, the edges of the base of said rib lying in a single plane slightly above the cells on the outside of the sheet and forming webs between the cells.

11. A container comprising a sheet provided with article receiving recesses, said sheet forming by means of said recesses a row of article receiving cells, there also being in said sheet a reinforcing rib extending'through said row of cells, thebase of said rib lying in the same plane at least as the cells on the outside of the sheet and forming webs between the cells, and a plurality of relatively narrow ribs extending transversely of said sheet and joining said first mentioned ribs at spaced intervals.

12. A fragile article container of the character described, comprising a sheet of molded material provided with article holding pockets, the sheet continuous straight relatively narrow rib running along a row of pockets in the sheet, said rib having a base substantially flat in cross section lying in so I a single plane throughout its length and extending beyond the pockets on the outside of the sheet and forming webs between the pockets, and a plurality of relatively narrow ribs extending transversely of and crossing said first mentioned ribs at spaced intervals.

13. A fragile article container of the character described, comprising a sheet of molded material provided with article holding pockets, the sheet forming by means of said pockets a row of article receiving cells, each cell adapted toreceive and hold an article, there also being in said sheet a relatively narrow rib running along at least two pockets in a row of pockets in the sheet, said rib having a base substantially fiat in cross section lying in a single plane slightly above the pockets on the outside of the sheet and forming webs between the pockets.

14. A fragile article container of the character described, comprising a sheet of molded material provided with article holding pockets, the sheet forming by means of said pockets a row of article receiving cells, each cell adapted to receive and hold an article, there also being in said sheet a relatively narrow rib running along the row of pockets in the sheet, said rib having a base lying in a single plane slightly above the pockets on the outside of the sheet and forming webs between the pockets.

JOHN HARVEY PICKETI'. 

